By Angelle Gonzalez
Windsurfing’s popularity has reached new heights in Europe. Although the sport itself receives fairly little attention in North America, Italian’s Lake Garda is a prime example of Europe’s seemingly unending hunger for this young, brazen, and non-gender specific sport.
Lake Garda, Gardasee, Lago di Garda, whatever you want to call it, attracts both those die hard, speed-crazed windsurfers as well as the average, inexperienced, ”I’ll try it once, just as long as I don’t look too stupid,” kind of vacationer. Not only does Lake Garda fulfill every windsurfer’s wildest fantasies, but it also provides every authentic adventurer, sports addict, or nature freak with lots to do. Basically, Lake Garda really puts a new definition to the concept; all sports paradise ’cause you can do it all here! Just leave it to your imagination, everything from hang-gliding, hiking, mountain biking, to deep sea diving is at your disposal.
Torbole was my destination. Situated on the north-eastern tip of the lake, Torbole’s surrounding mountain range and proximity to the Alps makes it ideal for guaranteed 24 hour rough and long wind. According to the locals, the early morning north wind provides a stable, calm breeze that’s ideal for those who are just starting out. But beginners beware! Within seconds the lake is transformed from its once innocent, pristine, and tranquil waters into a powerful force of mother nature that pleads to be reckoned with. The inexperienced wind surfer is suddenly bombarded with an avalanche of white-cape waves while fighting to keep his balance against the very element that makes Lake Garda popular in the first place; the overpowering, and never subtle, southernly wind, or better known to locals as ”La Ora.”
My goal in this big adventure was to learn how to surf with the wind (Of course, I, coming form the old school of surfing, namely without a sail, thought that it would be a breeze, no pun intended). It just so happens that Torbole is also the location of the world renowned wind surfing school, Conca d’ Oro. Not only does each session include the best equipment that money can offer, but it also provides top rate instruction from professional wind surfers. The instructors are not only more than qualified, they’re also very patient and friendly (Trust me, I should know. After constantly screaming each time I fell into the water or if I couldn’t lift that stupid sail up, my instructor would just sail on by with his famous last words, ”Smile, Angelle!”).
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